Scopas Tangs

[edsreef]

So what's the deal with their size? I see too much conflicting info on this.

Some sources say around 6" max and others 12+" max. I noticed in Bertoni's sticky in the beginners section on RC he says 75 gal min tank. That recommendation makes it sound like it doesn't get very large.

I had bought one of these a short while back because I thought it was a smaller tang, then returned it after doing some research because I thought it would get almost as big as a Sailfin.

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[Luiz Rocha]

The max size of scopas is about 40cm, but I never saw one that big, so that's kind of a record. Realistically I would say they don't get much bigger than 20cm, or about the same size as the yellow tang.

 

[edsreef]

Thank you Luiz.

I'm not new to tangs in general, but I know most species in captivity come somewhat close to reaching their maximum wild size in captivity.

I'm wondering, is this tang some type of oddity? I mean does it stay much, much smaller in captivity than in the wild when compared to other tangs? Is that the reason for all the conflicting info on its size?

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Not really sure, I think it is more likely that the very large one was an oddity in the wild. There are some places where species live longer and grow larger (and slower), for example the ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) is much larger in Bermuda than anywhere else in it's range. I've never seen a scopas larger than 6 inches in the wild, but maybe the record came from a place where they grow abnormally large...

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thank you Luiz.

I'm not new to tangs in general, but I know most species in captivity come somewhat close to reaching their maximum wild size in captivity.

I'm wondering, is this tang some type of oddity? I mean does it stay much, much smaller in captivity than in the wild when compared to other tangs? Is that the reason for all the conflicting info on its size?

I'd get a copy of Scott Michael's pocket size (if you have big pockets) book, "Marine Fishes"; fairly cheap at Amazon. I've found it to be as good a source as any on fish size. He says about 8". I don't think they're an "oddity". I've never owned one, but they sure are dull looking tangs, IMO. It sounds like you're looking for a tang that will work in a smaller tank. Kole's Tang may work.

 

[twintrades]

I've never owned one, but they sure are dull looking tangs, IMO. It sounds like you're looking for a tang that will work in a smaller tank. Kole's Tang may work.

Far from dull there infact verry Pretty. Ours has a yellow head and black rear. With small irridesent dots on its head and Turning to lines down its rear. WHy would you want a yeller tang Every one has those. I love ours model fish by my standerds

 

[Virtuoso]

I've never owned one, but they sure are dull looking tangs, IMO. It sounds like you're looking for a tang that will work in a smaller tank. Kole's Tang may work.

Not sure if you've ever seen one in person, but I think the way a Scopas Tang looks can vary a pretty large amount by the individual, and I think a lot of the pictures I see online do not do it justice. Looking to stock my new tank with one eventually and after seeing a few at the LFS I think they are gorgeous "simple" fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

:spin3:"Never insult a fish" I knew as soon as I posted it. I've never kept a Scopas, but agree that they are perky alternatives to the everyday yellow tang....even if they are a bit ''chromatically challenged". I'm sure a lot of people would consider some of my favorite fish dull too. I really don't want to pick on boring fish; but, then there are polka dot and pajama cardinal fish. I won't even get started on seahorses.:spin3:

 

[Amazon4]

heh, yah, Scopas don't jump right out at you color wise. But I fell in love with one. From a distance you can't see the intricacies of their colors. Up close, they're pretty fish

 

[treylane]

Yeah, while it varies somewhat from one specimen to another, they're not "just a brown fish" ... they have really pretty fine spots all over their bodies which is apparent in person but not in most photos. And they've got a gradient from yellow/light brown on the front to dark brown/black on the rear which gives them a little bit more style too.

 

[SDguy]

The max size of scopas is about 40cm, but I never saw one that big, so that's kind of a record. Realistically I would say they don't get much bigger than 20cm, or about the same size as the yellow tang.

That's got to be a typo on FB. I mean, seriously, a scopas that is almost a foot and a half long? Just like the powder blue reference... really, an almost 2 foot long PBT?

 

[LKGRenegade22]

I've had one about 5 years. It grew to about 4.5" fairly quick and has not grown a bit lengthwise in the past few years.

 

[agreeive?fish]

i personaly think that sizes listed on many sites for many of the larger fish we keep in the home aquarium are the record size officialy recorded for that particular fish

as for scopas tangs looks, to me they vary greatly in looks and coloring any where from very pretty to butt ugly and every where in between just like mixed breed dogs and cats..some pretty some fuggly and some inbetween

 

[Eric the half-bee]

I really enjoy my scopas as he is not necessarily colorful but the pattern markings are pretty. Mine has been in my tank fir 2 years and has been the slowest growing of my tangs along with chevron, striated and the kole. Probably because my smaller tangs were smaller when introduced and my larger tangs get the lion share at feeding time? I'd be curious if others have seen similar trends in tang growth rates.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I really enjoy my scopas as he is not necessarily colorful but the pattern markings are pretty. Mine has been in my tank fir 2 years and has been the slowest growing of my tangs along with chevron, striated and the kole. Probably because my smaller tangs were smaller when introduced and my larger tangs get the lion share at feeding time? I'd be curious if others have seen similar trends in tang growth rates.

Off the subject, but I noticed you're keeping both a maroon and a tomato clown in a 400. How are they getting along/ just curious, I'm a fan of both.